# Why is creating water exothermic?

I have to calculate the bond dissociation energy of steam. I'm a total noob, so don't go too hard on me.

(I'm translating the exercise by myself, sorry if there is a mistake.)

Calculate the bond dissociation energy of gas-water/steam ($$\ce{H2O}$$). Whereas the total enthalpy of the bound is the sum of the "sub-bounds". Use the following table:

Now, we have: $$\ce{2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O}$$

Imagine we have a tank with one $$\ce{O2}$$ and two $$\ce{H2}$$, then, according to the table (if I read it correct), we need $$2\cdot436\ \mathrm{kJ} + 497\ \mathrm{kJ}=1396\ \mathrm{kJ}$$ to "break" the bonds. We then get two $$\ce{O}$$ and four $$\ce{H}$$. They react to two $$\ce{H2O}$$ Now, according to the table, two $$\ce{H2O}$$ need $$2\cdot 2\cdot 463 \ \mathrm{kJ}=1852\ \mathrm{kJ}$$ to bind together.

So, we start with a system of total inner energy $$1396\ \rm kJ$$ and end up with one of $$1852\ \rm kJ$$. Clearly, we have to put energy into the first system to get to the second.

Now, that's obviously false - but I don't get why. I'd expect a exothermic reaction because 1. I just know it is and 2. because the $$\ce{O2}$$ have a double bound which I just expect to be harder to break.

So where is my thought wrong?

You’re mistakenly conflating the bond dissociation energies between the diatomic components and the product molecule. If the bond dissociation energy of water is larger than the bond dissociation energy of the individual diatomic components, then the system is “lower energy” (preferred) in the $\ce{H2O}$ state and that “extra energy” in the atomic state will be released in the form of exothermic heating. Remember that elemental $\Delta H = 0$, and the water molecule has stronger bonds/lower enthalpy and would require more energy to dissociate than the elemental components (which is what your math shows), meaning water won’t spontaneously dissociate into the diatomic gases since that would be an endothermic process and require some external energy. As an aside, keep in mind that dissociation of bonds in a molecule like water won’t be consistent between atoms (after the first hydrogen bond has broken from an $\ce{H2O}$ molecule, the remaining hydroxyl group requires less energy to dissociate). In sum, if your product has a higher bond dissociation energy than your reactant, it’s at lower enthalpy and the net of the reaction will be a release of energy in the form of exothermic heating.

• Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. – Faded Giant Jul 16 '18 at 18:08
• What I do not see in this answer is the calculation of the correct exothermic heating. You say the HO requires less energy to dissociate into H and O than the H required to separate from the OH, but that would make the total energy to decompose HOH into separate atoms even less than the naïve calculation made by the OP. – Monty Harder Jul 16 '18 at 18:22
• Not at all. In these tables, the bond dissociation energy is averaged between atoms of the same element in a molecule like water. For example, the first H atom in water has a bond dissociation energy of approximately 490 kJ/mol, the second H’s BDE is ~425 kJ/mol, and reference tables will give the average of these values so that the calculation of total dissociation into independent elements is still relatively accurate. Here is an example of the exothermic heating calculation. – Bruce Kirkpatrick Jul 16 '18 at 18:32

You say I have to supply $1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$ to dissociate $2 \ce{H_2}$ and an $\ce{O_2}$. If I let those separated atoms fall back together as $2 \ce{H_2}$ and an $\ce{O_2}$, do I have to supply another $1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$ or do I have to transport that much energy away from the system?

It can be helpful to think of a potential energy "landscape". As we pull the products apart into atoms, we push them up the potential hills (we put energy in). Then, they fall down the slopes to combine in new molecules (energy comes out).

To form water, we put in $1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$, then as the atoms fall back together, we extract $1852 \,\mathrm{kJ}$. So what is the net liberated energy?

EDIT: You do not "start with a system of total inner energy $1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$ and end up with one of $1852 \,\mathrm{kJ}$." The reference point (origin of the coordinate system) of this energy is $0 \,\mathrm{kJ}$, which occurs when all the atoms are separated. You have to put energy into the $\ce{2H_2}$ and $\ce{O_2}$ to attain this system. so the energy of the initial state is $-1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$. That is, you put $1396 \,\mathrm{kJ}$ in just to reach $0\,\mathrm{kJ}$.

The bonded systems don't have "(positive) energy in the bonds" -- they give up energy to be able to form bounds. Bonds are a form of negative energy. Exactly the same thing happens with gravity. Take the Earth-you system. Right now you are motionless (on an astronomical scale). We have to put energy into you to reach the zero point of gravitational energy -- infinite separation of you from the Earth. From any finite separation, if we wait, you will fall back toward the Earth, converting gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy. When you reach the surface, your gravitational potential energy is negative (since the zero point of that axis corresponds to infinite separation) but your kinetic energy is large. To recreate the motionlessness that the real you has right now, we have to extract your kinetic energy from the Earth-you system. That is, starting with zero gravitational potential energy and infinite separation, to recreate what you observe to be the case right now (in real life) we must remove a large amount of energy.

The atoms are in the same condition. First we have to put energy into the system to pull their bonds apart. If we were to make them infinitely far apart, we would have to put in (approximately, with details) the amount of energy in your table. At that point, they have zero chemical potential energy. Then they fall back together into the molecules you want, converting chemical potential energy into kinetic energy. Since at the end of the process, we have stationary atoms in our molecules, we have to extract the kinetic energy -- we extract energy from the $0\,\mathrm{kJ}$ state to get the bonded state, so the bonds have negative energy.

• "then as the atoms fall back together, we extract 1852 kJ" Thats exactly the point I absolutely don't get. 1. What means "falls back" 2. Why should that "release" energy? HEavier bonds are created, so energy from the system is taken and stored in the bonds. How is that releasing energy? – xotix Jul 17 '18 at 9:25
• @xotix : You have a sign flip in your understanding. Since getting this sign right is very important, I have added some material to my answer. – Eric Towers Jul 17 '18 at 15:51